Many Cape Town residents woke up concerned as smoke clouds billowed from the slopes of Table Mountain on Wednesday morning, 29 March.
SANParks shortly released a statement that it was in fact a prescribed burn being conducted under the management of SANParks Table Mountain National Park (TMNP).
The controlled fire was scheduled to take place from 2am, below Tafelberg Road when specific favourable temperature, wind and humidity conditions were met.
Also read: Table Mountain provides an essential ecosystem for Cape Town
Prescribed burning is the intentional and controlled application of fire in specified locations. It is an essential component in maintaining and regenerating the diversity of the Cape Floral Region Protected Areas World Heritage Site.
Additionally, prescribed burns act as a form of risk management by removing dry flammable materials, which greatly reduce the likelihood of future uncontrolled wildfires occurring.
Fynbos vegetation also relies on fires every 10 to 15 years for reproduction and growth in the fynbos species, as well as to eliminate invasive alien plants.
Fynbos vegetation is both fire-prone and fire-adapted, and the use of fire forms an integral part of the ecological management of the park.
Brand Manager for NCC Wildfire, Charl Steenkamp, created a photo gallery of the recent prescribed burning that took place in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
He somehow managed to capture both the frightening majesty of a mountain wildfire and the dangers firefighters are often confronted with, as well as the awe-inspiring beauty of the light that only fire can emit from within the darkness.
Take a look:
Also read:
Picture: Charl Steenkamp / Facebook